The current health crisis is clearly a time of worry for most of us. And we don’t know when the coronavirus pandemic will ease. But there are many simple things we can all do to prevent infection – and infecting others, from handwashing and social distancing to, of course, most importantly, just staying at home.
One thing that may not have perhaps occurred to you is the importance of cleaning your home, especially as you and those you live with are likely to be spending a lot more time there for the foreseeable future.
Eating well (and together if you live with others) is especially critical in these extraordinary times. But you need to prepare food in a clean kitchen, and, ideally, clean the kitchen a couple of times a day. Here’s how:
Be thorough
Think of all the surfaces that need to be cleaned: tables, stove knobs, chopping boards, door handles, light switches – essentially, anything someone could have touched if they’ve been outside and, as is so often the case, come straight into the kitchen. If you want, keep a checklist on the fridge door.
Remember also to wash your clothes each day, or leave them to soak overnight – otherwise they’re ideal bacterial breeding grounds.
Use soapy water
The fatty membrane around the outside of the coronavirus is easily destroyed by soap and water. Use an alkaline-based soap of pH 7 and above.
Using bleach
On those surfaces that can tolerate it, and without going overboard, and while ensuring adequate ventilation, disinfect with bleach. In fact, bleach expires, so ensure it’s within date first.
Marble, granite and quartz stone countertops, won’t be able to tolerate even a diluted bleach solution. But many other surfaces can tolerate bleach solutions. If in doubt, check first on a small non-visible area before applying to the whole surface.
With bleach, and some other products, understand how long they need to remain wet on a surface, or air-drying. If you dry them off a little too zealously, that may render them ineffective.
Additionally, use a bleach solution so that pure bleach is diluted with water. Make sure the bleach doesn’t contain any descaling ingredients.
Coronavirus is vulnerable to disinfectants including bleach. However, vinegar is not an effective disinfectant or virus killer.
We’re still not entirely sure which chemicals kill it. In any event, you should be very careful with chemicals on a natural stone surface such as marble.
Finally, of course, always follow NHS guidelines. Wash your hands before preparing food, sitting down to eat and when you come in, and after cleaning.
Here to help
At Royal Stone Care, we’re here to help. We know it’s a stressful time for everyone. But we’re still at work (safely of course), and can advise on stone cleaning, including stone polishing and restoration.
At the same time, we can come and deep-clean your kitchen, bathroom or shower room using our professional anti-viral products. Talk to us today.
